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-   -   Results of structural survey and possible costs - any advice appreciated! (https://www.diybanter.com/uk-diy/115890-results-structural-survey-possible-costs-any-advice-appreciated.html)

Tigs August 4th 05 02:04 PM

Results of structural survey and possible costs - any advice appreciated!
 
Hi

Apologies about the detail, I'm hoping that some experts here might
have some experience of specific problems and so might be able to give
me an idea of specific costs!

We have had the results of a survey on a house, and I'm trying to
figure out the costs that would be associated with the more urgent
repairs (or any of the other costs if anyone who reads this is in the
know!), plus see if anyone would have advice on how we should proceed.

The background is...
We offered and were accepted 12.5k below the asking price of a property
(the local market has dropped over 5% in the last six months and we
felt the house was extremely overvalued in the current unstable market,
after research on similar properties in the immediate vicinity).The
vendor has stated that they won't negotiate, even though our survey
estimates the price we offered is still 3k over market value and has
stated some work should be carried out before we complete.

The more immediate recommendations we
- Damp in several areas - under guarantee from 2001 (vendors)
- Slight evidence of wall tie corrosion (due to black ash composition)
- slight horizontal cracking - need specialist to check whether these
need to be replaced (quite a tall Edwardian semi, may require
scaffolding. Not sure of costs.
- Roof original and missing quite a few (slipped) slates.Again might
need scaffolding so not sure of costs)
- Timber valley guttering - clearing/renewing or resealing on rear
elevation, general overhaul for all house required. Some internal
evidence of water staining to timber valley gutter.
- Need drains specialist - partly blocked rear drain with no grate.
Discussed with vendors who say it does wash away but we need to check
this out as I believe if there's a problem it would be an expensive
job!

Less immediate stuff
- Master bedroom ceiling bowed and cracked and will come down at some
point, needs replacing/overboarding - is this expensive?
- Other stuff that we can deal with in the longer term: Bricking up
party wall gaps, deteriorating unused chimney stack,Undersized rear
purlins (it is an old house!),Unsatisfactory triangulation of roof
structure (ie bit of roof spread - again old house, unsurprised),cement
torching on underslide of slates missing,defective flashing or pointing
on 2 chimneys inside roof space,attic winder treads to be replaced.

We've sold and will be exchanging with first time buyers (and hope to
not go into rented) and we have already pulled on a previous house due
to a very worrying survey and vendors again not wanting to negotiate.
My negotiation skills are obviously not up to scratch, so any advice
would be appreciated on costs OR negotiation!!

Also, does anyone know of any reasonably priced experts/builders in
South Yorks?!

Tigs


Séan Connolly August 4th 05 03:10 PM

The vendor has stated that they won't negotiate, even though our survey
estimates the price we offered is still 3k over market value and has
stated some work should be carried out before we complete.


Walk away then, its would be daft imo to pay 3k over the market value and
then pay for even more work to get it up to standard. Let them stew for a
bit, they'll probably drop the price in the end.



Rob Morley August 4th 05 03:21 PM

In article . com,
"Tigs" says...
snip out before we complete.

The more immediate recommendations we
- Damp in several areas - under guarantee from 2001 (vendors)


Depends what has caused it, and whether any "treatment" has actually
made it worse.

- Slight evidence of wall tie corrosion (due to black ash composition)


If it's only slight after 80 years you probably don't need to worry
about it.

- slight horizontal cracking - need specialist to check whether these
need to be replaced (quite a tall Edwardian semi, may require
scaffolding. Not sure of costs.


Where is it? This could be caused by the roof spread - if so it may
not need any further rectification (maybe just repointing) once that
is remedied. Doesn't sound like the ties have failed, but you might
want to lift some floorboards to check the joists.

- Roof original and missing quite a few (slipped) slates.Again might
need scaffolding so not sure of costs)
- Timber valley guttering - clearing/renewing or resealing on rear
elevation, general overhaul for all house required. Some internal
evidence of water staining to timber valley gutter.


Find out if it needs clearing or renewal, and whether damage caused
by leaks is structural or just cosmetic.

- Need drains specialist - partly blocked rear drain with no grate.
Discussed with vendors who say it does wash away but we need to check
this out as I believe if there's a problem it would be an expensive
job!


Depends where the blockage is, and whether it's caused by collapsed
pipes - best to get a camera survey if you're worried about it.

Less immediate stuff
- Master bedroom ceiling bowed and cracked and will come down at some
point, needs replacing/overboarding - is this expensive?


No.

- Other stuff that we can deal with in the longer term: Bricking up
party wall gaps, deteriorating unused chimney stack,Undersized rear
purlins (it is an old house!),Unsatisfactory triangulation of roof
structure (ie bit of roof spread - again old house, unsurprised),cement
torching on underslide of slates missing,defective flashing or pointing
on 2 chimneys inside roof space,attic winder treads to be replaced.

Sounds to me like it would be best to budget for a complete new roof,
and get the chimneys sorted at the same time. Check if there are any
regulations regarding the type of roof you can fit (conservation area
etc.)

Peter Parry August 4th 05 05:17 PM

On 4 Aug 2005 06:04:36 -0700, "Tigs"
wrote:

The
vendor has stated that they won't negotiate, even though our survey
estimates the price we offered is still 3k over market value and has
stated some work should be carried out before we complete.


Surveyors invariably underestimate the value of houses somewhat.

--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

JoeJoe August 4th 05 06:51 PM


"Séan Connolly" mrcATseanDASHconnollyDOTcoDOTuk wrote in message
...
The vendor has stated that they won't negotiate, even though our survey
estimates the price we offered is still 3k over market value and has
stated some work should be carried out before we complete.


Walk away then, its would be daft imo to pay 3k over the market value and
then pay for even more work to get it up to standard. Let them stew for a
bit, they'll probably drop the price in the end.


Send 5 different surveyors, and you will get 5 different figures.... What
is a market value anyway? Only what someone is prepared to pay. We can all
look up the land registry for similar properties in the vicinity, which is
exactly what this people do.

My mate spent 4 years (Scotland) in the pub doing a geography degree. He
then spend another year at university, and at the end of it was a qualified
surveyor. A real expert...

P.S.: I know, I know, as with any profession some of them are very good.
However a professional who qualifies everything he/she says is no expert in
my books...



Lobster August 4th 05 07:25 PM

Tigs wrote:

- Damp in several areas - under guarantee from 2001 (vendors)


What sort of damp? See recent thread (and others) about damp treatment
guarantees!

- Slight evidence of wall tie corrosion (due to black ash composition)
- slight horizontal cracking - need specialist to check whether these
need to be replaced (quite a tall Edwardian semi, may require
scaffolding.


Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but did the Edwardians build houses
with cavity walls? Or are there other applications for wall ties?

David

Andrew Gabriel August 4th 05 07:47 PM

In article ,
Lobster writes:
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but did the Edwardians build houses
with cavity walls? Or are there other applications for wall ties?


Even the Victorians did. They start in around 1880 I think,
but only in wet windswept coastal areas initially. They
gradually work their way across the country, and are
probably in all the new housing stock around the 1930's.

--
Andrew Gabriel

Mark August 4th 05 11:43 PM


Tigs wrote in message

The background is...
We offered and were accepted 12.5k below the asking price of a property


The vendor has stated that they won't negotiate,


- Damp in several areas - under guarantee from 2001 (vendors)


- Slight evidence of wall tie corrosion (due to black ash composition)


snip
walk away from this one, there are more houses then buyers at this time.

New C5 program "Want to be a property developer"
Quote from ****
"Its easy buying houses but can be problematic selling them"

Wrong!

-








Séan Connolly August 5th 05 08:32 AM

Send 5 different surveyors, and you will get 5 different figures.... What
is a market value anyway? Only what someone is prepared to pay. We can
all look up the land registry for similar properties in the vicinity,
which is exactly what this people do.


Sure at the end of the day its worth what some is prepared to pay for it, it
may be the perfect house/location so you go the extra inch. At the end of
the day though won't the mortgage company only lend what they think its
worth though ?



Tigs August 5th 05 02:47 PM

Many thanks for your responses.

When it comes down to it the bank will loan us the needed cash, as
long as we do the specialist investigations. I'm just trying to figure
out costs, to see if its worth it. With Edwardian properties, I'd
expect some of this work, its just there seems to be a lot of it for a
property that was priced =A335k over what anything else was sold for on
the street recently!


I'll see what the specialists have to say...

Cheers again,

Tigs


Richard Faulkner August 7th 05 01:12 PM

In message , Peter Parry
writes
On 4 Aug 2005 06:04:36 -0700, "Tigs"
wrote:

The
vendor has stated that they won't negotiate, even though our survey
estimates the price we offered is still 3k over market value and has
stated some work should be carried out before we complete.


Surveyors invariably underestimate the value of houses somewhat.


And over estimate the amount of work needed!!

--
Richard Faulkner


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